First Superbloom in 10 Years Predicted for Death Valley

The normal brown landscape of Death Valley could transform into a color wonderland in the weeks and months ahead if a rare superbloom develops as predicted. What is a superbloom, and what factors need to be in place for it to happen? We have all of the details right here.

Is a Rare Superbloom Just Around the Corner?

The National Park Service (NPS) is predicting that California's Death Valley National Park may soon be the site of a superbloom, due to a confluence of weather conditions. This part of the Desert Southwest is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. However, there are times that this slice of the desert can come alive with brilliant colors as wildflowers cover the parched terrain.

Known as a superbloom, this event happens when a number of weather elements line up just right. The most signifcant predictor of a superbloom is unusually high amounts of rain during the late fall and early spring. In addition to copious amounts of moisture during this time frame, the temperatures and wind speeds also play a role in triggering a superbloom. For example, too many high wind events tend to dry out the flowers and mitigate the duration and intensity of the blooming season.